Lo Cicero aiming to lord it over England

The titled Italian prop will not be taking a backward step against the world champions, writes Stephen Jones

CLIVE WOODWARD is on record as saying that he expects today’s match to be physically the harshest that England will experience this year. Considering England still have to travel to France, New Zealand and Australia, there’s a suspicion Woodward is talking up the opposition somewhat. However, it is true that Italy bring many of their national passions to the rugby field.

Nowhere is this better typified than in Andrea Lo Cicero, Italy’s world-class prop. Former Italy coach Brad Johnstone gave Lo Cicero his first Six Nations start. “He is the epitome of the modern prop,” he says. “He is athletic, he has good skills and yet he is very strong in the scrum. But chiefly, he is competitive and aggressive.”

Sicilian-born Lo Cicero, 26 years old and nearly 19st, is possibly the most powerful loose-head in the tournament. Strong enough to be a kayak racer of some renown and a